The gracious purposes to which the Lord makes the sense and
feeling of our depravity subservient, are manifold.

Hereby His own power, wisdom, faithfulness and love--are
more signally displayed.

His power is displayed--in maintaining His own work in the
midst of such opposition, like a spark burning in the water, or a bush
unconsumed in the flames.

His wisdom is displayed in defeating and controlling all the
devices which Satan--who, from his knowledge of the evil of our nature, is
encouraged to practice his wily arts against us.

The unchangeableness of the Lord's love, and the riches of
His mercy, are likewise more illustrated, by the multiplied pardons He bestows
upon His people--than if they needed no forgiveness at all.

Hereby the Lord Jesus Christ is more endeared to the soul;
all boasting is effectually excluded; and the glory of a full and free
salvation is ascribed to Him alone.

After a long experience of their own deceitful hearts, after
repeated proofs of their weakness, willfulness, ingratitude, and
insensibility--they find that none of these things can separate them from the
love of God--and Jesus becomes more and more precious to their souls. They love
much--because much has been forgiven them.

They dare not, they will not ascribe anything to themselves,
but are glad to acknowledge that they would have perished a thousand times
over--if Jesus had not been their Savior, their Shepherd, and their Shield.

When they were wandering--He brought them back.

When they were fallen--He raised them.

When they were wounded--He healed them.

When they were fainting--He revived them.

In a word, some of the clearest proofs they have had of His
excellence, have been occasioned by the mortifying proofs they have had of
their own vileness. They would not have known so much of Him--if they had not
known so much of themselves!

These are some of the advantages and good fruits which the
Lord enables us to obtain from that bitter root, indwelling sin.

"Having obtained help from God--I continue until this
day." Acts 26:22

This is the testimony of the great apostle of the Gentiles.
Many were the perils to which he was exposed, and many were the hardships which
he endured--but he was borne up and carried through them all, by the help of
God his Savior.

Just so, He who was the Helper of the great apostle--is the
Helper of the feeblest child in His family, or the weakest lamb in His flock.

He is your Helper, beloved Christian reader! He who has
redeemed you, not with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with
His precious blood--will assuredly afford you seasonable aid. Look then to Him,
in the discharge of your daily duties--for all needful wisdom and strength.

In domestic cares and trials--remember that your Helper is
near.

In every hour of weakness and sorrow--cast yourself on His
sustaining grace.

In the hour of your extremity, when human help avails
nothing--then cling to Him, and listen to Him as He says,

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed
them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:17)

Christ has made good His claim of being the good shepherd.
He has led us from the land of death to the holy city, the great Mount Zion, to
green pastures. He has led us to calm waters, to the river of life everlasting!
He has been faithful to draw us from the valley of death and install us upon
thrones of glory in the city of life!

God's Word

The Way of Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ (Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 16:31); that the full benefit of Christ's obedience and death are received by faith alone and wholly apart from works (Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16); that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of Christ, who was made to be sin for us, dying in our room and stead (Gal. 3:13), and that no repentance, no faith, no feeling, no resolutions, no sincere efforts, no baptism or other ordinance can add the least to the value of the precious blood of Christ (Gal. 3:21; Rom. 10:4).